KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The City of Kalamazoo says it will close the temporary warming shelter near the Mills Street homeless encampment this Sunday at 12 noon as temperatures will no longer meet criteria for extreme weather. After clearing the shelter, the Department of Public Services will begin demobilization Monday at 8:00 a.m.
The city constructed the tent following the “Kalamazoo County’s Extreme Temperature & Weather: Policy and Plan,” which calls for jurisdictions and agencies to assist in an instance of an Extreme Cold Event, defined as:
Extreme Cold Event – An Extreme Cold Event is a weather condition with excessively low temperatures or a combination of cold temperatures and wind that has the potential to cause cold-related illnesses or injuries. An extreme cold event is defined in hours, a day, or series of days when:
The lowest expected air temperature is below 5 degrees Fahrenheit or the wind chill is forecasted to be below zero.
Weather or environmental conditions are such that a high incidence of cold-related illnesses or injuries can reasonably be expected.
“With temperatures and wind chills expected to increase beyond what the County’s policy classifies as an extreme cold event on Sunday, we began notifying the individuals using the shelter and our community partners that it will close on Sunday,” said Jim Ritsema, Kalamazoo City Manager.
The process of demobilizing the warming shelter is expected to take multiple days.
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